Jump to content

My First Sheaffer And Snorkel (Hopefully Not My Last)


KBeezie

Recommended Posts

I'm somewhat new to non-student fountain pens, so I had done a bit of research before hand before picking a 'vintage' pen to go with, and as per the recommendation of two friends of mine (one of which being the one that restored mine) I went with a Sheaffer Snorkel. It's a nice American made pen that's older than either of my parents.

 

The one I got here is a Sheaffer Snorkel Admiral (circa 1953 based on some of the insides), won it for $41 when there was only a minute left and I was already annoyed at being out bidded for all the other snorkels (I wanted to get something like the burgundy red or forest green body, but this is nice :D), and then I had it restored by Sean (Write on Time) to like-new condition.

 

I was pleasantly surprised by the result, a nice lightweight pen that's easy to feel, writes smoothly and just feels classy.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/intro/sheaffer_snorkel_close.jpghttp://static.karlblessing.com/pens/intro/sheaffer_snorkel_full.jpghttp://static.karlblessing.com/pens/intro/sheaffer_snorkel_extend.jpg

 

:P I love it, I keep it with me most of the time when I go out, just wish I could find a nice single-pen case that I can slip it into for some more protection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 12
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • KBeezie

    6

  • rafizip

    3

  • kpyeoman

    1

  • Techi

    1

Guest Ray Cornett

Yes the main difference is that filler system. Glad I could help head you in the Snorkel direction. The Touchdown was my first FP but I am sticking to Snorkels for obvious reasons. Now we both have two! Goulet Pens has a selection of leather single pen sleeves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes the main difference is that filler system. Glad I could help head you in the Snorkel direction. The Touchdown was my first FP but I am sticking to Snorkels for obvious reasons. Now we both have two! Goulet Pens has a selection of leather single pen sleeves.

 

Yea been looking at those sleeves, I just wish Oberon Designs made pen cases, have always loved their leather products, especially if I can get one with that Hokusai Wave design pressed into it. (They currently don't make pen sleeves).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice pen! The restorer seems to have done an excellent job on bringing the pen aesthetically back to like new condition. You've photographed it well, too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice pen! The restorer seems to have done an excellent job on bringing the pen aesthetically back to like new condition. You've photographed it well, too.

I was surprised as well, only ran me $35 (USD) to have it fully restored (all new seals, sac, etc), cleaned, polished, adjusted with a 1 year warranty on the restoration.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey KBeezie,

Those pictures of your Snorkel are very nice - it looks brand new. I got my first Snorkel about a month ago, a nice Burgundy one (sorry) and use it quite often now. I've always been partial to the Parker Vacumatics for vintage pens, but I have to say that this Snorkel has me looking to get a few more Sheaffers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey KBeezie,

Those pictures of your Snorkel are very nice - it looks brand new. I got my first Snorkel about a month ago, a nice Burgundy one (sorry) and use it quite often now. I've always been partial to the Parker Vacumatics for vintage pens, but I have to say that this Snorkel has me looking to get a few more Sheaffers.

 

Yea the 'brand new' look was part of the restoration process I paid for. The pen as I got it seemed decent already, but Sean shined it right up.

 

This is his facebook page, and as I understand it $35 is the standard fee he charges to completely restore (clean, replace all seals/sac, align/adjust, polish, remove scratches/chew marks, etc, and return shipping) and provide a 1 year warranty on the restoration.

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-on-Time-Vintage-Pens-Watches-Restoration-and-Service/208871225809681

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I, too, am new to the sheaffer snorkels, with my first being a mint condition grey - with white dot - one very similar to yours. The only issue was that the sac was no longer usable due to storage conditions - but theres a new one on the way to solve that

I think that your black admiral might even tempt me to another one very soon, it is a very classy pen in black - and a nice find for that price :)

 

Techi.

 

 

(ha ha did not notice the date on this thread, never mind)

Edited by Techi

"Distrust, Confirm, then still be Suspicious"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

My snorkel suddenly has decided that it doesn't want to fully retract after filling it. I had a similar problem before when the nib was loose - not the case this time. Anyone have any ideas?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The spring has probably slipped somehow, and is interfering with the sac protector/TD tube interface. Short of taking it apart and then putting it back together, you can try a few cycles of running the probe in and out to see if things will re-align on their own.

Ravensmarch Pens & Books
It's mainly pens, just now....

Oh, good heavens. He's got a blog now, too.

 

fpn_1465330536__hwabutton.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The spring has probably slipped somehow, and is interfering with the sac protector/TD tube interface. Short of taking it apart and then putting it back together, you can try a few cycles of running the probe in and out to see if things will re-align on their own.

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26626
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...